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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Corinthians 2:5-11

In these verses the apostle treats concerning the incestuous person who had been excommunicated, which seems to be one principal cause of his writing this epistle. Here observe, 1. He tells them that the crime of that person had grieved him in part; and that he was grieved also with a part of them, who, notwithstanding this scandal had been found among them, were puffed up and had not mourned, 1 Cor. 5:2. However, he was unwilling to lay too heavy a charge upon the whole church, especially... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Corinthians 2:5-11

2:5-11 If anyone has caused grief, it is not I whom he has grieved, but to some extent--not to overstress the situation--all of you. To such a man the punishment that has been imposed by the majority is sufficient, so that, so far from inflicting severer punishment, you must forgive him and comfort him, lest such a one be engulfed by excess of grief. So then, I urge you, let your decision in regard to him be a decision of love. For when I wrote to you my purpose was to test you, to see if you... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 2:5

But if any have caused grief ,.... The incestuous person is here manifestly designed, though he is not named, who had been the cause and occasion of much grief and sorrow, both to himself and others; for the apostle is not to be understood, as though he doubted whether he had caused grief or not, but rather takes it for granted, as a certain point; "if", seeing, or although he has caused grief: he hath not grieved me but in part ; or in some measure; as it has reflected dishonour on God... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 2:6

Sufficient to such a man is this punishment ,.... By this punishment is meant, the excommunication of the incestuous person, or the censure that was laid upon him by the church: for this was inflicted by many ; not by the pastor only, or by the elders or more eminent persons in the church, but by the multitude, by the whole congregation, at least υπο των πλειονων , "by the more"; the greater, or major part; and not by one, or a few only: in inflicting this punishment, or laying on this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 2:7

So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him ,.... On the other hand, so far the apostle suggests they should be from inflicting any other punishment on him, or by any means adding to, and increasing what was inflicted, that they ought to forgive him his offence, by taking off the censure from him, which had been sufficient for the purpose, and had continued on him a sufficient time: and comfort him ; by restoring him to the communion of the church, and to an enjoyment of all the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 2:8

Wherefore I beseech you ,.... Or exhort you: that ye would confirm your love towards him : express your love to him in the most kind and tender manner, show the same, and as strong love to him as you did before, and as if he had never offended; receive him as a brother in the most affectionate manner, and embrace him with the most endearing expressions of respect and friendship; and let your reception of him in this kind and friendly way be with the full consent, and by the joint vote... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 2:9

For to this end also did I write ,.... Or "I have written", both in this and in his former epistle to them, and in both with this view, that I might know the proof of you ; that he might try, prove, and know them: whether ye be obedient in all things ; he wrote unto them in his former epistle, to put away that wicked man from them; which he did not do, merely to reproach the man, and fix a brand of infamy on him; nor merely to grieve and afflict their minds; nor only to show his own... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 2:10

To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also ,.... This may extend to the forgiveness of any person, in any case; either in time past, or at the present time, or in time to come; though it has a particular respect to the forgiveness of the incestuous man, which the apostle had determined in his own mind, and was very ready to come into, and very desirous to join with the church in, as they had joined with him in the excommunication of him; and in order to engage them in such a temper and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 2:11

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us ,.... Or make gain of us, or we should be circumvented by him; a metaphor taken from covetous persons, who take every occasion, and make use of every advantage to circumvent and deceive persons in trading with them: Satan gets an advantage of the churches, when church discipline is brought into neglect and contempt, or turned into tyranny; or when he can draw off any person from a church, or keep him out of it: wherefore the apostle's argument is,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 2:5

But, if any have caused grief - Here he seems to refer particularly to the cause of the incestuous person. Grieved me, but in part - I cannot help thinking that the εκ μερους and απο μερους , which we render in part, and which the apostle uses so frequently in these epistles, are to be referred to the people. A part of them had acknowledged the apostle, 2 Corinthians 1:14 ; and here, a part of them had given him cause of grief; and therefore he immediately adds, that I may not... read more

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